Loving the Least of These: The Face of God

“What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” ~Matthew 18:12

There are mixed opinions on what to do about the homeless crisis. You don’t need to read statistics to see the number of homeless people on the street corners has increased. While government figures debate about whether to build them houses or ship them into neighboring cities – the more pressing question is whether we first see them as children of God?

Loving the Least of These

Jesus ties our love for Him to loving the least of these among us.

Later in Matthew, Jesus describes at the end of time, He will separate the sheep from the goats. To the goats he says, “’For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me”’ (25:35-40). The goats assumed they were a part of His flock when, in fact, the flock contained the outcasts who were so conveniently ignored.

Herbert Kretzmer in the musical adaption of Les Misérables beautifully wrote, “and remember the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God.” If Christians cannot remember to love God’s children, then they cannot love Him.

I say this to challenge you, especially during Advent, to examine yourself so that you are aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you see someone in need “do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27).

Always improve the present moment.